JONESBORO (11/4/13) – Arkansas State senior safety Sterling Young (Hoover, Ala.) was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after recording nine tackles and an interception during the Red Wolves’ 17-16 road victory over South Alabama last Saturday.

Young’s nine tackles were only one shy of his season high, while his interception marked the fourth of his career. Young was part of A-State’s defense that held South Alabama 75 yards under its season total offense average and to its lowest scoring output this season.

His interception came at a critical junction of the game and sparked a second-half comeback by A-State. Leading 6-0, South Alabama drove to the ASU 22-yard line on the opening possession of the second half when Young picked off Jaguars’ quarterback Ross Metheny in the back of the end zone. Not only did the forced turnover keep it a one-possession game, it swung the momentum back to the Red Wolves as they responded with an 80-yard touchdown drive to take a 7-6 advantage.

Young increased his season tackles total to 50, which ranks third on the team and 14th in the Sun Belt Conference. He has posted at least five tackles in all but one game this season and seven or more in four outings. Young is the fourth Arkansas State player to earn one of the Sun Belt’s weekly honors this season, joining senior defensive lineman Ryan Carrethers, senior quarterback Adam Kennedy and sophomore wide receiver J.D. McKissic (special teams).

The Red Wolves are currently 4-4 overall and 2-1 in Sun Belt Conference play. They return to action Saturday, Nov. 9, with a 6 p.m. game against Louisiana-Monroe at Malone Stadium.